Matsuri Events in Japan

Mihara Daruma Festival

Festival food and daruma dolls aplenty. For a daruma market of historic proportions, there's none quite like Mihara City's annual Daruma Festival.

Dojima Yakushido Setsubun Omizukumi Festival

Instead of bean-throwing, you toss joss sticks into a fire at this traditional Setsubun Festival.

Demon Festival on Mount Yoshino in Nara

Fancy a dance with a demon? Nara's Kinpusenji Temple offers a unique Setsubun experience with its annual Demon Festival.

Kayabuki no Sato Snow (Miyama Village) Lantern Festival

An amazing chance to see a remote, snow-covered thatched village illuminated with hundreds of lanterns.

Nozawa Onsen Fire Festival

One of the three greatest fire festivals in Japan.

People-Throwing and Ash-Smearing Festival

Watch men get tossed into snow and behold the messy ash-smearing chaos.

Dontosai Festival

Put some heat into your winter and New Year with this steamy (in more ways than one!) festival.

Osaka Toka Ebisu Festival

Join the festive atmosphere of Osaka’s Toka Ebisu Festival at Imamiya Ebisu Shrine, where locals gather to pray for wealth and success while enjoying street food and lively parades.

Maebashi Hatsuichi Daruma Festival

Daruma dolls are set alight in a traditional Japanese festival.

Kasuga Wakamiya On-Matsuri

A traditional Japanese festival with roots tracing back to the 12th Century.

Minō Momiji Festival

Get the most out of Autumn with a trip to the Minō Momiji Festival.

Kōrankei Momiji Festival

Catch the colors of the autumn leaves at this traditional Maple tree festival.

Shinno Festival

Discover Osaka's Shinno Festival, which takes place annually at Sukunahikona Shrine, where local businesses and visitors come together to pray for health and prosperity.

Tokushima Yokai Festival

Enjoy this Yokai-themed festival with a spooky march.

Karatsu Kunchi Festival

One of Saga Prefecture's oldest and most popular festivals with enormous floats.

Ishigaki Island Festival

Ishigaki Island plays host to a beautiful festival.

Ube Festival

The Ube Festival features parades, entrainment, food and more.

Miyazakijingu Festival 2025

Featuring a parade with traditional costumes and entertainment.

Jidai Matsuri: Kyoto’s Historical Parade 2025

This one's for the history buffs.

Kurama Fire Festival

Bonfires, torches, shrines, and gods are all out in the streets for this vibrant Kyoto festival.

Kiyomizu Temple Seiryu-e Dragon Festival (Autumn)

A festival at the beautiful Kiyomizu-dera Temple.

Great Tug-of-War

The largest tug-of-war event in the world is held every year in Naha.

Takayama Autumn Festival

This festival is the fall edition of the Takayama Spring Festival.

Paantu Festival

A festival where locals dress as supernatural beings and aim to get mud on everything.